Ketlen Vieira has a degree to show at UFC 307.
The UFC veteran as soon as once more enters a struggle seeking to earn a shot on the bantamweight title with a victory, and feels it could lastly come if she beats two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison this Saturday in Salt Lake Metropolis, particularly with all of the hype surrounding the previous PFL champion.
“I feel she underestimates me,” Vieira mentioned in an interview with MMA Preventing. “When she says she’s higher than me in all areas, she’s underestimating me. She’s an excellent athlete, she’s a Olympic medalist for a purpose, however she’s not higher than me in every little thing as a result of she’s fully depending on taking the struggle to the bottom. We haven’t seen her commerce on the toes for 3 rounds. Possibly she will be able to do this sooner or later, however I don’t see that proper now.”
Harrison mentioned through the UFC 307 media day on Wednesday she believes she “can beat all three ladies in the identical evening,” referring to her upcoming opponent and each UFC 307 co-headliners, Raquel Pennington and Julianna Peña.
Harrison has solely fought as soon as contained in the octagon, dominating and ending Holm with a rear-naked choke. Vieira additionally holds a win over Holm, in addition to Miesha Tate, Cat Zingano and Sara McMann.
“I’m used to this already,” Vieira mentioned. “Folks at all times say I’m the underdog and I’m nonetheless right here, beating the perfect. I’ve been right here many instances earlier than. Once I fought McMann the winner would struggle for the belt, and I received. Once I fought Cat Zingano, who was the one girl to beat Amanda [Nunes in the UFC], the winner would go for the belt, and I received. I beat two different ex-champions, Miesha and Holly. I’m used to large fights. Folks have quick reminiscence and proceed to underestimate me.”
Vieira sees the Harrison conflict as a “semifinal” to find out the subsequent contender within the 135-pound division, and expects Pennington to efficiently defend her throne Saturday in opposition to Peña.
“It’s an excellent struggle for me,” Vieira mentioned of Harrison. “I’m extra full than Kayla, I’ve extra instruments. I’ve good floor sport and good judo as nicely. You possibly can’t study to defend judo takedowns in judo, however that’s one thing I’ve achieved my complete life. And I’m additionally evolving on the toes. I’m getting extra full on daily basis. If I’ve to grapple together with her, I’ll. If I’ve to commerce together with her, I’ll. She will be able to’t do the identical as a result of she fully depending on her floor sport.”
